{"id":28647,"date":"2026-05-28T15:26:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T16:43:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:43:32","slug":"supply-chain-contingency-plan","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-toc single-toc\" data-controller=\"blog-toc-controller\" data-action=\"scroll@window-&gt;blog-toc-controller#scrollChanged:passive\" id=\"toc-component\" blog-toc-controller-time-label-value=\"Minutes\" blog-toc-controller-button-label-value=\"Show more\"><div class=\"single-toc-overview\"><p>Table of Contents<\/p><div class=\"single-toc-read-time\"><p>** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-define-the-scope-goals-and-constraints-of-your-supply-chain-contingency-plan'>Define the scope, goals, and constraints of your supply chain contingency plan<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-build-a-risk-register-and-prioritize-what-is-realistic-to-plan-for'>Build a risk register and prioritize what is realistic to plan for<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-design-triggers-owners-and-kpis-so-the-plan-can-be-activated-quickly'>Design triggers, owners, and KPIs so the plan can be activated quickly<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-build-runbooks-and-communication-templates-your-team-can-execute-under-pressure'>Build runbooks and communication templates your team can execute under pressure<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-test-review-and-keep-supply-chain-contingency-planning-current'>Test, review, and keep supply chain contingency planning current<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-make-contingency-planning-simpler-with-shipbob-s-fulfilment-platform-and-support'>Make contingency planning simpler with ShipBob&#8217;s fulfilment platform and support<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-get-started-with-shipbob'>Get started with ShipBob<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href='#h-supply-chain-contingency-planning-faqs'>Supply chain contingency planning FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        \n\n        \n        \n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A supply chain contingency plan is a living playbook that helps teams respond quickly to disruptions. It protects service levels and keeps customers informed. A usable plan pairs realistic scenarios with measurable triggers, clear ownership, and actionable runbooks that teams can drill and execute under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide walks through every step of building a modern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/supply-chain-operations\/\">supply chain<\/a> contingency plan. You&#8217;ll find a practical template and realistic examples. You&#8217;ll also find advice on structuring a plan that&#8217;s actually usable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end, you&#8217;ll know how to identify the right risks and set up clear triggers and KPIs. You&#8217;ll be able to make your plan a tool your team can rely on, especially when it matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-define-the-scope-goals-and-constraints-of-your-supply-chain-contingency-plan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Define the scope, goals, and constraints of your supply chain contingency plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A supply chain contingency plan must be grounded in the realities of your business model and customer promise. Start by defining which parts of your supply chain directly impact customer experience. Then clarify what you&#8217;re trying to protect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Scope:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>A comprehensive supply chain contingency plan covers all nodes that affect the customer journey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Suppliers: raw materials, finished goods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inbound transportation: freight, customs clearance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Storage: fulfilment centres, inventory on hand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/order-fulfillment\/\">Fulfilment<\/a>: picking, packing, kitting, bundling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/ecommerce-shipping\/shipping-handling\/\">Shipping<\/a>: carrier performance, last-mile delivery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Returns routing: including options to send returns to a non-ShipBob location<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When to use what:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/supply-chain-risk-management\/\"><strong>Risk management<\/strong><\/a> is about identifying and mitigating potential threats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Business continuity<\/strong> ensures the company can operate during a major crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply chain contingency planning<\/strong> is for operational disruptions that threaten service levels or customer experience &mdash; think of it as the bridge between daily ops and crisis response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Operational goals:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Your plan should protect key metrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Protect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/otif\/\">on-time, in-full<\/a> (OTIF) delivery rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain high fill rates for key <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/fulfillment-basics-sku\/\">SKUs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Control <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/lead-time\/\">lead-time<\/a> variability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce backlog growth during disruptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep customer updates accurate and timely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Constraints:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Every plan operates within real-world limitations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cash tied up in inventory that won&#8217;t sell<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/minimum-order-quantity\/\">minimum order quantities<\/a> (MOQs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marketplace <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/sla-service-level-agreement\/\">service level agreements<\/a> (SLAs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited operations headcount<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International expansion (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) with varying local requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Scenario examples by category:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Tailor your plan to your industry&#8217;s common disruptions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Beauty: Launches with unpredictable demand, packaging shortages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apparel: Seasonal surges, supplier delays on new collections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplements: Replenishment cycles, ingredient lead times<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home goods: Long lead times, customs delays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A clear scope and set of goals keep your plan focused and actionable, rather than overwhelming or generic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-build-a-risk-register-and-prioritize-what-is-realistic-to-plan-for\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build a risk register and prioritize what is realistic to plan for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every risk deserves a full playbook. Focus on the scenarios that actually move the needle for your service levels and margin, and plan those deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here we&#8217;ll walk you through building a disruption list, prioritizing risks with a simple scoring method, and choosing resilience strategies that match each threat. The goal is to focus your efforts where they&#8217;ll have the most impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-create-a-disruption-list-that-matches-your-business-model\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create a disruption list that matches your business model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start by mapping disruptions to where they occur in your supply chain. This helps you see which issues are most likely to impact your customer promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disruption categories:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Group potential issues by where they occur:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supplier: Raw material shortages, production delays, quality issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inbound transportation: Port congestion, customs holds, freight delays<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fulfilment\/warehouse: Capacity constraints, labour shortages, system outages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carrier performance: Missed pickups, weather delays, carrier strikes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demand volatility: Viral moments, influencer campaigns, unplanned spikes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Systems outages: OMS\/WMS downtime, integration failures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ecommerce-specific examples:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Common scenarios by vertical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supplements: Ingredient delays due to regulatory changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beauty: Packaging lead-time slips ahead of a launch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apparel: Inventory arriving late before a seasonal drop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home goods: Container stuck at port before a major promo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/food-huggers\/\">Food Huggers<\/a> experienced a viral moment after a TV appearance, order volume spiked overnight. By using ShipBob&#8217;s scalable fulfilment and real-time inventory visibility, they maintained high OTIF rates and avoided backlogs, even as demand surged far beyond forecasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>International expansion risks:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Brands operating globally face additional challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Customs delays and restrictions (brand responsibility)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local carrier variability (service levels differ by country)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/inventory-replenishment\/\">Replenishment<\/a> timing for US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A disruption list tailored to your business model ensures you&#8217;re not wasting time on unlikely scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-prioritize-scenarios-with-a-simple-scoring-method-your-team-will-actually-use\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prioritize scenarios with a simple scoring method your team will actually use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have your disruption list, score each risk. Focus on its likelihood and impact on customer experience and cash flow. A practical approach borrows from FMEA but keeps it simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Scoring criteria:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Severity: How badly would this disrupt service or margin?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Occurrence: How likely is it to happen in the next 12 months?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detection: How quickly would you know it&#8217;s happening?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example scoring table:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Scenario<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Severity<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Occurrence<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Detection<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Priority<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Supplier delay<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Carrier strike<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>OMS outage<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>4<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Demand spike (viral)<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Inbound customs hold<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Top 5 scenarios:<br><\/strong>Build full runbooks for your highest-priority risks: those that scored highest for severity, occurrence, and detection impact. These are the disruptions most likely to threaten your OTIF rates, fill rates, or customer experience. Each runbook should include triggers, owners, step-by-step actions (T-0, T+24, T+72), KPIs to monitor, and communication templates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Watchlist scenarios:<br><\/strong>For lower-priority risks that didn&#8217;t make your top 5, document brief responses that outline the basic action and owner. This keeps them on your radar without overloading your team with full playbooks for unlikely events. Review your watchlist quarterly. Some risks may rise in priority as your business or supply chain evolves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prioritizing this way keeps your plan focused and actionable, not overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-choose-resilience-strategies-that-match-each-risk-not-one-blanket-approach\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choose resilience strategies that match each risk (not one blanket approach)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each risk deserves a tailored resilience strategy. Avoid a &#8220;one size fits all&#8221; thinking. Below, you&#8217;ll find practical examples of how to match your response to the risk type, where to place inventory buffers strategically, and how to balance resilience with the tradeoff of capital tied up in stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strategy examples:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Match your response to the risk type:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supplier failure: Multi-sourcing, alternate suppliers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fulfilment disruption: Alternate fulfilment centres, rerouting orders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lead-time variability: Inventory buffers at key nodes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Inventory buffer placement:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Strategic buffers reduce risk without tying up excess capital:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supplier: Hold extra raw materials for long-lead SKUs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In-transit: Use safety stock in transit for high-velocity SKUs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fulfilment centre: Buffer only A- and B-class SKUs using ABC\/XYZ segmentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tradeoff:<br><\/strong>More resilience means more capital tied up in inventory that may not sell. To balance protection with cash flow, limit buffers to SKUs that drive the majority of your revenue and margin, typically your A-class items in an ABC analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Set a review cadence (monthly or quarterly) to adjust buffer levels based on actual sell-through rates, lead-time changes, and shifts in demand patterns. If a buffered SKU&#8217;s velocity drops or a supplier&#8217;s reliability improves, reduce the safety stock to free up working capital. This disciplined approach ensures you&#8217;re protecting service levels without over-investing in slow-moving inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matching strategies to risk type this way ensures your plan is both effective and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-design-triggers-owners-and-kpis-so-the-plan-can-be-activated-quickly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Design triggers, owners, and KPIs so the plan can be activated quickly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A supply chain contingency plan only works if it&#8217;s clear when to act. It must also clarify who acts and what success looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-create-a-trigger-matrix-with-thresholds-and-activation-rights\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create a trigger matrix with thresholds and activation rights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Define clear triggers for each scenario so teams know exactly when to activate a playbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trigger types:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Different scenarios require different activation signals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time-based (e.g., supplier misses ship date by 48 hours)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Service-level-based (e.g., OTIF drops below 95%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inventory-based (e.g., on-hand days remaining &lt; 7)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplier-performance-based (e.g., two consecutive late shipments)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sample thresholds:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Set measurable activation points for each scenario:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lead-time variance &gt; 3 days vs. plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On-hand inventory &lt; 10 days for top SKUs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ETA delay window &gt; 24 hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backlog size &gt; 200 orders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fill rate dips below 98%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Activation authority:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Clarify who has the power to declare an incident and trigger the plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Operations manager can declare a supplier delay incident<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Head of fulfilment can switch to alternate node<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customer support lead must be informed within 1 hour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A trigger matrix makes it obvious when to move from &#8220;watch&#8221; to &#8220;act.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-assign-ownership-with-a-raci-that-matches-how-work-gets-done\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Assign ownership with a RACI that matches how work gets done<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assigning clear roles prevents confusion and delays during a disruption. When everyone knows who owns each decision and who needs to be looped in, your team can move quickly without waiting for approval chains or second-guessing next steps. A well-defined RACI matrix ensures accountability and keeps work flowing, even under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RACI roles:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Define who does what at each step:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Responsible: Executes the task (e.g., operations team reroutes orders)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accountable: Owns the outcome (e.g., head of supply chain)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consulted: Provides input (e.g., finance, marketing)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Informed: Needs updates (e.g., customer support, leadership)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Handoffs:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Clarify how internal teams and external partners (manufacturers, couriers, fulfilment partners) coordinate during disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Escalation paths:<br><\/strong>Define how issues move up if not resolved; don&#8217;t wait for the weekly meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example RACI snippet (supplier delay):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Task<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ops<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Finance<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Support<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Marketing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Supplier<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>ShipBob<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Identify delay<\/td><td>R<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td>C<\/td><td>C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Activate alternate supplier<\/td><td>A<\/td><td>C<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td>R<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Update customers<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td>R<\/td><td>A<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adjust inventory plan<\/td><td>R<\/td><td>A<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td>C<\/td><td>C<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A well-structured RACI keeps decisions moving and prevents bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-tie-kpis-to-each-playbook-so-you-can-measure-recovery-not-activity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tie KPIs to each playbook so you can measure recovery (not activity)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">KPIs should measure whether your contingency actions are working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Core KPIs:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Track the metrics that matter during a disruption:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>OTIF (on-time, in-full)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/fill-rate\/\">Fill rate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lead-time variability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/inventory-backlog\/\">Backlog<\/a> size<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dwell time (inventory sitting idle)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Service level by carrier\/service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>KPI bands:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Define clear thresholds for normal, degraded, and recovery states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Target: Normal operations (e.g., OTIF &gt; 98%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Degraded: Trigger for action (e.g., OTIF &lt; 95%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recovery: Back to target for 3 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Decision links:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Connect KPI thresholds to specific actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If OTIF drops below threshold, activate alternate fulfilment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If backlog rises for 2 consecutive days, escalate to leadership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Customer experience indicators:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Monitor signals that show how disruptions affect customers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ticket volume<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WISMO (&#8220;where is my order&#8221;) rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refund requests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pairing operational KPIs with customer-facing metrics ensures you&#8217;re protecting both service and satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-build-runbooks-and-communication-templates-your-team-can-execute-under-pressure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build runbooks and communication templates your team can execute under pressure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Runbooks turn strategy into a checklist. They clarify what to do, when, and how to communicate, especially when time is tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-build-runbooks-by-scenario-with-t-0-t-24-t-72-timelines\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build runbooks by scenario with T-0 \/ T+24 \/ T+72 timelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each runbook should fit on 1&ndash;2 pages and break actions into clear time blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Runbook format:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Every runbook should include these elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trigger: What starts the playbook<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goal: What you&#8217;re trying to achieve<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Owners: Who does what<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steps: Action items by timeline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data checks: What to monitor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comms: Who needs updates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example: Supplier misses ship date<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Time<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Action<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Owner<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>KPI to Monitor<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>T-0<\/td><td>Confirm delay, notify ops, activate alternate supplier if needed<\/td><td>Ops manager<\/td><td>OTIF, fill rate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>T+24 hrs<\/td><td>Update inventory plan, adjust promise dates, inform customer support<\/td><td>Inventory mgr<\/td><td>Backlog, WISMO rate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>T+72 hrs<\/td><td>Review recovery, update leadership, send customer comms if needed<\/td><td>Head of ops<\/td><td>OTIF, ticket volume<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breaking actions into T-0, T+24, and T+72 helps teams focus on immediate containment, stabilization, and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-prepare-routing-and-fulfillment-contingencies-without-overcomplicating-operations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare routing and fulfilment contingencies without overcomplicating operations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pre-approve alternate fulfilment paths so teams can act quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Routing rules:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Document fallback options for common scenarios:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ship from a different fulfilment centre if primary is constrained<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjust promise dates on site and marketplaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporarily pause low-priority channels if needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Partial fulfilment:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/split-shipments\/\">split shipments<\/a> when it improves customer experience and economics. For example, ship available items to subscription customers in health and wellness. Meanwhile, delay low-velocity SKUs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Backorder handling:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Document how to manage backorders in your OMS\/WMS. Decide whether to hold or split based on SKU priority and customer segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These steps keep operations nimble without adding unnecessary complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-create-communication-templates-that-reduce-confusion-and-ticket-spikes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create communication templates that reduce confusion and ticket spikes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clear, timely communication reduces confusion and prevents a flood of support tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Internal escalation (example):<br><\/strong>&#8220;Supplier X missed the ship date for SKU 123. The estimated delay is 3 days. Ops is activating alternate suppliers. Next update at 2 pm.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Customer-facing update (example):<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>&#8220;Due to an unexpected supplier delay, your order will ship 2&ndash;3 days later than planned. We&#8217;re working to resolve this and will keep you updated. Thank you for your patience.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Partner update (wholesale\/retail, example):<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>&#8220;PO #456 will be delayed by 3 days due to a supplier issue. Revised ship window is now May 10&ndash;12. Please confirm if this impacts your allocation needs.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Approval checklist:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Streamline message approval to avoid delays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Message drafted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reviewed by ops and support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approved by leadership (if needed)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scheduled for release<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A streamlined approval flow ensures messages go out quickly, not days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-test-review-and-keep-supply-chain-contingency-planning-current\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test, review, and keep supply chain contingency planning current<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A supply chain contingency plan is only as good as its last test. Regular reviews and drills keep your plan relevant and actionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schedule a quarterly tabletop drill. 90 minutes is enough to walk through a scenario and assign roles. Use this time to spot gaps. Assign a facilitator and a note-taker to capture lessons learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once a year, run a live drill on a high-impact scenario. Set guardrails so you don&#8217;t disrupt daily fulfilment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After each drill, conduct an after-action review. Update triggers and clarify roles. Revise inventory rules based on what worked and what didn&#8217;t. Tie your maintenance cadence to your business cycle and review before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/peak-season-fulfillment\/\">peak season<\/a>, major promos, product launches, or international expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Audit checklist:<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Keep track of plan maintenance with these checkpoints:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Last drill date<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Last runbook update<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Current contact list<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Current data sources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regular testing and updates keep your supply chain contingency plan ready for whatever comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-blog is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&rsquo;re managing hundreds of thousands of orders regularly, working on new product launches, assessing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/otif\/\">OTIF<\/a>&nbsp;data, determining inventory placement, preparing for peak season, and planning inventory availability around major marketing campaigns &ndash; we couldn&rsquo;t do that without a partner like ShipBob, who helps us navigate so many of those obstacles.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Stephanie Lee, Co-CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/petlab\/\">PetLab Co.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-make-contingency-planning-simpler-with-shipbob-s-fulfillment-platform-and-support\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make contingency planning simpler with ShipBob&#8217;s fulfilment platform and support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ShipBob&#8217;s fulfilment platform gives brands the real-time visibility and operational flexibility needed to execute a supply chain contingency plan. The dashboard provides a single source of truth for inventory and order status across all fulfilment centres and channels. This makes it easy to spot disruptions and act quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"322\" width=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=1080\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=160 160w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=400 400w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=768 768w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=700 700w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/c922499ac2c0ca4d7d3643e435ee1631.png?w=240 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merchant Success teams also help operationalize escalation paths. They document &#8220;who to contact for what&#8221; inside your contingency plan. For example, if a fulfilment centre faces a capacity crunch, ShipBob coordinates with your ops, support, and marketing teams&mdash;updating customers at each operational checkpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ShipBob&#8217;s global fulfilment network spans the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. Our vast network enables brands to reroute orders when demand shifts or a location is constrained. ShipBob&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/product\/inventory-placement\/\">Inventory Placement Program<\/a> (IPP) automates US inventory distribution to reduce shipping zones and costs. This is especially helpful for heavier orders and brands with broad customer distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-get-started-with-shipbob\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get started with ShipBob<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With ShipBob, you get hands-on support, real-time analytics, and a scalable fulfilment solution that adapts as your business grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/quote\/\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-supply-chain-contingency-planning-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supply chain contingency planning FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"single-faq-title\">Do brands need to execute every part of a supply chain contingency plan themselves?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. While brands are responsible for defining priorities, triggers, and escalation paths, many execution steps are handled by external partners. Fulfilment, shipping, and inventory reallocation are often executed by logistics providers, making clear ownership boundaries and pre-defined handoffs more important than doing everything internally.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"single-faq-title\">How often should you test and update a supply chain contingency plan?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Test your supply chain contingency plan with a tabletop drill every quarter and a live drill at least once a year. Update the plan after each drill. Review before major business events like peak season or international expansion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"single-faq-title\">What are realistic triggers and thresholds for supply chain contingency planning?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Realistic triggers include supplier delays beyond 48 hours and OTIF dropping below 95%. They also include inventory on hand falling under 10 days for key SKUs, or a backlog exceeding a set order count. Thresholds should be tailored to your business&#8217;s service level commitments and cash flow needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"single-faq-title\">How does ShipBob help with real-time visibility during supply chain disruptions?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ShipBob&#8217;s dashboard provides instant visibility into inventory and order status across all fulfilment centres and channels. This allows brands to monitor disruptions and activate contingency plans quickly. Real-time data supports fast, informed decision-making during incidents.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"single-faq-title\">How does ShipBob&#8217;s customer support team assist with fulfilment issues or disruptions?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ShipBob provides hands-on support from in-house Merchant Care and a dedicated Merchant Success Manager for larger brands. Support is available through localised hours and multiple channels (case portal, email, phone, and live chat), plus on-site reps in fulfilment centres.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Build a resilient supply chain in 2026 with a practical contingency plan. Learn how to assess risks, set triggers and KPIs, create runbooks, and use ShipBob\u2019s global fulfilment network to protect OTIF and customer experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":193,"featured_media":28649,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"blogcategories":[9,14],"class_list":["post-28647","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blogcategories-logistics","blogcategories-supply-chain"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026 - ShipBob UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Build a resilient supply chain in 2026 with a practical contingency plan. Learn how to assess risks, set triggers and KPIs, create runbooks, and use ShipBob\u2019s global fulfilment network to protect OTIF and customer experience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ShipBob UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-29T16:43:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/\",\"name\":\"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026 - ShipBob UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-28T15:26:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-29T16:43:32+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"ShipBob UK\",\"description\":\"Just another ShipBob Network site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026 - ShipBob UK","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026","og_description":"Build a resilient supply chain in 2026 with a practical contingency plan. Learn how to assess risks, set triggers and KPIs, create runbooks, and use ShipBob\u2019s global fulfilment network to protect OTIF and customer experience.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","og_site_name":"ShipBob UK","article_modified_time":"2026-05-29T16:43:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","name":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026 - ShipBob UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-28T15:26:48+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-29T16:43:32+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/","name":"ShipBob UK","description":"Just another ShipBob Network site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026","url":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg?w=160","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg"},"articleSection":"Uncategorized","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Meredith Flora"}],"creator":["Meredith Flora"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ShipBob UK","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2026-05-28T15:26:48Z","datePublished":"2026-05-28T15:26:48Z","dateModified":"2026-05-29T16:43:32Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"headline\":\"Supply Chain Contingency Plan: A Practical Guide for 2026\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/supply-chain-contingency-plan\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg?w=160\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/f90f30cef78777f986f84fc4eab5f45c.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Uncategorized\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Meredith Flora\"}],\"creator\":[\"Meredith Flora\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"ShipBob UK\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-05-28T15:26:48Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-28T15:26:48Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-29T16:43:32Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/shipbob.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/28647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/193"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/28647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28651,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/28647\/revisions\/28651"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blogcategories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blogcategories?post=28647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}